Mark Sanchez will return as the starting quarterback for the Jets after Greg McElroy was diagnosed with a concussion. / Debby Wong, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

Greg McElroy's head is hurting. Tim Tebow's might be on the verge of exploding.

The New York Jets are making another quarterback change because McElroy has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills with a concussion suffered in the loss to the San Diego Chargers this past Sunday, the symptoms of which he tried to hide for a few days but could keep under wraps no longer after suffering headaches during a weightlifting session Thursday morning.

Rex Ryan made a quick decision on a replacement. He's going back to Mark Sanchez, not Tebow.

"When I look at it, you only have two practices left, you have one walk-through and the fact that Mark had some success early in the year against them â?¦ I think without question this is the right decision, to start Mark," Ryan told news reporters Thursday, about two hours after he learned of McElroy's concussion. "He knows Buffalo, and I think it's the right decision."

Guess who doesn't? Tebow.

"I can understand. There's no doubt," Ryan said of Tebow's frustrations. "I can definitely understand the frustrations of not getting the opportunity to play as much as I'm sure he would've liked, the fact our team has struggled. I'm sure there are a lot of frustrations now."

Ryan added, "Is he disappointed about not starting this game? Absolutely. But in my opinion, Tim will do whatever is asked of him."

A report by ESPN coming out of Sunday's game stated that wasn't the case and that Tebow had asked to be taken out of the Wildcat packages when he learned McElroy would be jumping over him to take over for Sanchez. Tebow denied that report Wednesday, though he admitted there could've been a miscommunication in his saying he wants to be a "regular quarterback."

Ryan was asked if Tebow's account was accurate. He leaned on the same answer he has given for days, which is that Tebow would've been ready to do whatever he was asked â?? if he'd been asked. Ryan never stated whether there was a point where he thought that to not be the case.

Ryan also wouldn't get into detail about whether his decision to go with Sanchez over Tebow is based in part on the need to change the offense if Tebow was in there or if Tebow is incapable of running the Jets' offense, in his estimation.

So now, in comes Sanchez with a chance to at least end a poor season on a good note. He had arguably his best game of the season in Week 1 against Buffalo when he threw for 266 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, though he was reckless with the ball at times that day as well.

"I think it'd be huge," Ryan said when asked about Sanchez perhaps bouncing back Sunday. "Any competitor would be excited about getting another opportunity. I know he believes in himself, and any competitor would want this opportunity."

But Ryan held no illusions about the fact Sanchez (17 interceptions to 13 touchdowns this season) would be judged on the whole.

"We'll definitely go back and evaluate the whole season after the Buffalo game," Ryan said. "There's no question we'll go back and look at the entire season."

As for McElroy, Ryan is glad he came forward, though Ryan wishes it would've happened sooner.

"Hopefully this will be an example to all of the players because the worst thing that could've happened is he would've gone out there with nobody knowing how he really felt and hurt himself. That obviously would've been the worst situation," Ryan said. "But the fact he was truthful â?? eventually, obviously not in the time he should've been â?? hopefully it'll be an example to other players that, 'Hey, look, you're hurting yourself.' And obviously that's what the league is trying to prevent. But the league needs to help the players as well to help this protocol work."

Of course, Alex Smith lost his job with the San Francisco 49ers because of a concussion. Perhaps McElroy was thinking of that situation.

"I don't deny that could be a possibility but again, I think with all the information out there about concussions now, players need to be honest," Ryan said. "The training staffs, I don't care how good they are, the medical staffs and the protocol is of the National Football league, you need to be honest. It's set up for you to be (honest). Sometimes, you can't tell, I don't think anybody could tell. So I think it's obviously extremely important players are honest with the medical staff."

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